Open back shed loom

ABSTRACT

A loom and method of looming weft filaments which cannot be wound, wherein the warp filaments are arranged at their upper end on carriages which move laterally to form an open shed and wherein the weft filaments, which are cut into predetermined lengths, are dropped into endless belt carriers which, in turn, deposit them in the open shed at each alternation of the carriages.

States Patent [151 3,636,986 Langiey et al. 51 .ion. 25, 1972 [541 OPEN BACK SHED LOOM FORElGN PATENTS OR APP'LlCATlONS [72] Inventors: Thomas W. Langley, Bon Air; Robert A.

Cloud, Richmond, both of Va.

[73] Texaco llnc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 887,219

Assignee:

[58] Field oisearch ..139/1,11,116,127,128,130, 139/17,l8,14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,833,314 6/1958 Shaw ..139/l28 3,323,557 6/1967 Matsushita et al ..l39/l28 457,704 9/1913 France ..139/l7 Primary Examiner-l-lenry S. Jaudon Att0rney-Thomas H. Whaley, Carl 0. Ries and L. H. Phelps,

[57] ABSTRACT A loom and method of looming weft filaments which cannot be wound, wherein the warp filaments are arranged at their upper end on carriages which move laterally to form an open shed and wherein the weft filaments, which are cut into predetermined lengths, are dropped into endless belt carriers which, in turn, deposit them in the open shed at each alternation of the carriages.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIED Jmasm 3,, 3&986

sum 1 [IF 5 PATENTEDJAMSWZ @mmwfi SHEET 3 OF 5 PATENTEU JANZS 1972 SHEET M UF 5 PATENTED JANZS 1972 sum 5 OF 5 OPEN lESACllt SHED lLUOMl The present invention relates to an open shed loom and more particularly to the manufacture of fabrics by depositing fill filaments into the shed or tent rather than by the use of a conventional shuttle mechanism.

The term fabric or woven fabric, as used herein, means a predetermined array of threads or filaments in convenient planar form providing a sheet or web.

Heretofore looming of fabrics involved lateral displacement of alternate warp threads in opposite lateral directions to permit a shuttle to be projected thru the closed shed or tent thus formed.

The present invention concerns specifically the looming or orientation of filaments which are quite stiff, that is to say, which have a high modulus of elasticity of the order, for example, of glass, boron and the like, which cannot therefore, be wound or handled upon spindles or bobbins of modest size.

Manifestly filaments of this kind cannot be handled by a shuttle. The present invention is concerned with a method and equipment for looming high-modulus weft filaments as above, which have sufficient diameter to prevent bending of the type encountered in ordinary shuttle weaving by providing a loom in which the extremities of the warp threads are oppositely and alternately moved into position laterally offset from the plane of the warp so as to leave a clear, open space therebetween. This therefore provides an open top tent or shed in which the weft filaments can be inserted or dropped.

As indicated, the high-modulus filaments comprise the weft so that the warp threads may therefore comprise relatively low modulus or flexible filaments of any suitable character to retain the weft filaments in fabricated relationship.

Such fabrics or filament arrays may be of particular advantage in the assemblage of plastic or metal matrix composites, of which they form an essential part wherein highmodulus fabrics, carefully arranged in appropriate orientation, are cast or moulded within a suitable polymeric plastic or metal, as is well known, to provide an integral, composite material with exotic and important properties. Such fabrics are, therefore, necessary to assure predetermined disposition and orientation of the filaments in the composite.

For this reason also the fabric may take the so-called open or loose warp form with the warp filaments relatively widely spaced in the plane of the fabric simply to maintain the assemblage of weft filaments.

The present invention involves a method and means for the alignment and disposition of the weft filaments in the fabric and specifically contemplates a mechanism for drawing out the weft filaments from a supply source such as one or more relatively large diameter supply drums into appropriate weft filament lengths, and the periodic disposition of these lengths into the open tent in timed relationship to the opening of the warp filaments.

By way of illustrating the present invention in greater detail, reference is made to the figures of the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a loom embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a vertical detail sectional view taken on the line of 2-2 of FIG. ll,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are detailed perspective views showing the weft feeding mechanism separated from the rest of the machine, with the thread advancing carriage in respectively different positions,

FIG. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3,

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views taken of the same section as FIG. 5 but showing the parts in relatively different operative positions,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the looming mechanism of the previous FIGS.

Referring now to the general arrangement of the open shed loom to which the present invention relates, the numerals l0 and i2 signify alternate warp threads which extent upwardly from the roll or beam M, being supported at their upper extremities by carriages l3 and 22 respectively. Thus warp threads 10 ride over guides 16 on carriages l8 and the opposite or intermediate threads 12 are carried by guides 20 on carriages 22.

Each of the warp threads comes from bobbins 24 or 26 respectively which are preferably spring tensioned by means not shown so as to provide the necessary firmness to the warp threads.

Therefore, in brief, the conventional heddle is replaced by frame 28 supported over beam 14 by means not shown, providing a support and guide for carriages l8 and 22. The frame is open centrally in the plane of the warp so that a weft filament aligned therewith will drop freely into place in the warp.

As additionally shown in FIG. 2, the respective carriages are guided by pneumatic tubes 30 and 32 which are slidably engageable within blind bores or recesses in the carriage.

Thus tube 32, mounted in wall 33 of the frame 28, is slidably received by the mating recess shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A second oppositely facing bore 34, in precise parallelism to the previous one, similarly receives opposed pneumatic tube 30 mounted in vertical wall 36.

Thus a pulse of air applied thru tubes 32 via line 38 will drive the carriages 18 across into engagement with wall 36.

Before carriages 18 leave guide tube 32, the lower apertures or bores 34 slidably engage opposite pneumatic tubes 30 which thus form a continuing guideway for the carriage throughout its path of movement.

Simultaneously a pulse thru tubes 32 in wall 36 will drive the carriages 22 over against wall 33. As intimated, the carriages are periodically and simultaneously shifted. For example, the carriages 118 on the left side of the frame as shown in FIGS. I and 2, as well as the identical carriages 22 on the opposite side of the frame, simultaneously receive a pulse of air thru respective tubes 32 via hoses 33. At this instant the alternate hoses 40 receive no air pressure. Therefore, each and every carriage is pneumatically driven to the opposite side of the plane of the warp against the opposite restraining wall 33 or 36, as the case may be, guided by the respective pneumatic tubes.

After each positioning of the warp threads a filament 44 is aligned over the open shed and accordingly over the open space 62 in header 28 and dropped into the open shed. After a beater 46 has firmed the filler thread into position a pulse of air thru tubes 46 returns carriages 13 and 22 back to their previous position to open the shed in the opposite direction, permitting disposition of an additional weft filament; this action going on continuously as each weft filament is deposited.

Timing of the pneumatic impulse and the deposition of the filler thread is effected by means not shown, and the fabric thus formed is continuously taken up on beam 114.

The details of the foregoing device form the subject matter of copending US. application, Ser. No. 887,218 filed of even date herewith in the name of Kenneth M. Gunn and Thomas W. Langley, to which reference is made for full details thereof. This therefore includes the modified structure shown in FIG. 8 hereof wherein the warp threads are supplied from bobbins or reels 50 and 52 respectively, suspended. by hangers 54 from carriages 56 moving on wheels or rollers 60 and actuated by actuator bars 62 and solenoids not shown. As before, the carriages ride on a frame 64 having a centrally open space 42 in the plane of the warp and lateral slots as at 66 to accommodate and guide hanger bars 54.

As in the previous embodiment, after insertion of each weft filament 414i actuation of the solenoids drives each carriage to its lateral position to embrace the weft filaments and open the shed in the opposite direction.

Referring now to the details of the present invention, this specifically involves a mechanism for the periodic alignment and deposition of the weft filaments within the open shed. Thus therefore, the following mechanism illustrates the features of the feeding means forming the subject matter of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the weft filaments 44, having a high modulus of elasticity, are drawn from one or more large diameter reels 72 thru a guide 74 by means of a clamping mechanism 76 which comprises upper and lower jaws 77 and 78 respectively. In the embodiment shown, the upper jaw 77 is folded as at 80 to embrace the upper portion of a guide plate 82. The lower jaw 78 is oppositely shaped as at 81 to embrace the lower portion of said guide plate 82.

Plate 82 is fixedly positioned in the machine by means not disclosed so as to locate the precise reciprocatory path of the clamping mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Separation of the two jaws is controlled by a reversely threaded jack shaft 84 actuated thru gear 85 by a carriage mounted electric motor'86.

A guide rod or bar 83,1-igidly fixed to the frame of the machine by means not shown, serves to position the jaws against rotation.

As shown in the FIGS., the upper portion of the jack shaft engages an extension of the upper jaw 77 with a screw thread of one rotational direction whereas a lower portion of the jack shaft engages the lower jaw 78 with a screw thread directed in the opposite rotational direction. Therefore when the motor rotates in one direction the jaws separate, whereas when it is operated in the opposite direction the jaws are brought together.

Also it will be obvious from the foregoing that only one of the jaws need to be threadedly connected with the jack shaft, the other simply being journaled to rotate freely therein. Thus, for example, the lower jaw may remain fixed with respect to shaft 84 while the upper jaw is elevated or lowered, as the case may be, with respect thereto.

The carriage mounted motor 86 runs on guide rollers 88 which serve to limit the path of the jaw mechanism to the edges of plate 82, which is fixed in the position indicated by means not shown, the movement of the carriage being effected by means of an actuating line 90 passing over rollers 91 and driven periodically by means not shown.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship of the parts with the jaws at one extremity of the path of movement whereas FIG. 4 shows them at the opposite extremity of the path.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 disclose diagrammatically the action of the jaws in response to the foregoing. Thus FIG. illustrates the jaws 77 and 78 firmly clamped together to grip the extremities of the filaments 44 as they would normally be at the position shown in FIG. 3. This results from an electrical impulse just previously supplied to actuate motor 86 and cause the jack shaft to clamp the jaws together as shown.

Immediately thereafter control line 90 is actuated to draw the carriage 86 and accordingly jaws 76 to the right, namely to the lateral position as shown in FIG. 4. At this position an opposite electrical impulse actuates jack shaft 84 in the opposite direction to open jaws as shown in FIG. 6. Line 90 is simultaneously drawn in the opposite direction to move the carriage back to its original position in FIG. 3. Therefore the jaws, being opened at this time, traverse the previously drawn out filaments 44. Immediately upon reaching the original position in FIG. 3 succeeding opposite actuation of motor 86 brings jaws 77 and 78 together as shown in FIG. 7, severing the filaments as indicated in FIG. 7 and subsequently coming to the original position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the filaments are again gripped in preparation for again drawing them out into the position shown in FIG. 4.

The filaments thus drawn out and cut off fall into feeder belts 92 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 provided with outwardly facing recesses 93. The timing of the several operations therefore is so arranged that belts 92 remain fixed just below the filaments 44 as they are severed so that the filaments are dropped into respective recesses 93, which at this time are located precisely therebelow.

Immediately after the severing of the filaments as in FIG. 7 the belts 92 again advance by periodic steps so that, one by one, the filaments are dropped into the open shed of the loom just after each carriage shift, as is indicated in FIG. 2.

Therefore in operation, the warp filaments are supplied from carriages moving between positions laterally spaced on either side of the plane of the warp so as to provide free and open access therebetween. The weft filament belt 92 at this time advances one step to drop a weft filament 44 into the open shed where it is positioned by beater 46. Instantly the warp threads are reversed to open the tent or shed in the opposite direction, followed immediately by the next stepwise advance of the feeder belt 92 to drop the next weft filament 44 from the recess 93 into the upper end of the open shed.

Meanwhile at the end of every fifth stepwise advance of feeder belt 92, clamping jaws 76 are sharply drawn to the position shown in FIG. 4 whereupon the jaws open as shown in FIG. 6 and are sharply returned to FIG. 3 position where they are again brought together to cut off five predetermined lengths of weft filament which drop vertically into waiting recesses 93 of the belt 92; the belt remaining fixed during this operation. Thereafter the belt 92 again proceeds to drop successive weft filaments into the open shed after each carriage reversal for five successive operations, after which the jaws again operate to fill the recesses 93 with additional filaments.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the timing of the feeder belt 92, based on the multiple of five, is necessitated only by the fact that in the embodiment shown, 5 reels of weft material are provided, the relative time depending in each case on the number of filaments provided.

Obviously either a greater or lesser number of supply reels may be used as desired.-

Moreover it is to be understood that the specific mechanism for timing the effective movement of the parts has not been shown in detail for the reason that at this time it forms no problem to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In the looming of an array of weft filaments having a relatively high modulus of elasticity and diameter such that they cannot be readily wound on bobbins or spindles, wherein relatively low-modulus warp filaments are suspended from carriages movable laterally on either side of the plane of the warp to provide an open shed with free access from above and wherein the carriages are periodically reciprocated to opposite sides of the plane of said warp to oppositely open said shed, the method of introducing the high-modulus weft filament into said shed which comprises drawing out said filament,

cutting said filament into fill filament length,

dropping said cut filament into a receptacle on an endless conveyor belt,

actuating said conveyor belt to a position above said warp,

in alignment with the plane thereof,

actuating said belt to drop said weft filament into said open shed immediately after each reciprocation of said carriages.

2. The method as defined in claim I wherein said highmodulus filament is continuously cut into weft filament lengths and successively deposited into said open shed, after each reciprocation of said carriages.

3. The method as defined in claim I wherein a series of weft filaments are grasped, drawn out and cut off simultaneously,

said filaments being simultaneously received by means of said belt and deposited successively in said open shed.

4. In an open shed loom comprising warp filaments, extending downwardly from laterally movable carriages and received by a beam therebelow, wherein said carriages are periodically reciprocable between positions on opposite side of the plane of the warp to provide an open shed with free access thereof above,

means for feeding weft filaments of a relatively stiff high modulus of elasticity to said open shed, following each reciprocation of said carriages, said last named means comprising means to draw a filament of said high-modulus material out to weft filament length,

means to out said filament to said length,

a predetermined path,

means for clamping said jaws to grasp the weft filament therebetween,

means for moving said jaws along said] guideway to draw out the filament,

means thereafter for opening said jaws and returning said jaws along said guideway,

means for closing said jaws to cut and grasp the filament for repetition of the cycle.

22;;35 w miim s'mif ze PATENT @mm Patent 2 626986 Daed Januarv 25$ 1972 Inventmfls) THOMAS W. LANGLEY and ROBERT A. CLOUD It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent; and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

COLUMN 1, Line 3: fill filaments" should read --weft filaments-- COLUMN HQ Line 46: "fill filaments should read --weft filaments-- Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 1973 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M'FLETCHERQJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. In the looming of an array of weft filaments having a relatively high modulus of elasticity and diameter such that they cannot be readily wound on bobbins or spindles, wherein relatively low-modulus warp filaments are suspended from carriages movable laterally on either side of the plane of the warp to provide an open shed with free access from above and wherein the carriages are periodically reciprocated to opposite sides of the plane of said warp to oppositely open said shed, the method of introducing the high-modulus weft filament into said shed which comprises drawing out said filament, cutting said filament into fill filament length, dropping said cut filament into a receptacle on an endless conveyor belt, actuating said conveyor belt to a position above said warp, in alignment with the plane thereof, actuating said belt to drop said weft filament into said open shed immediately after each reciprocation of said carriages.
 2. The Method as defined in claim 1 wherein said high-modulus filament is continuously cut into weft filament lengths and successively deposited into said open shed, after each reciprocation of said carriages.
 3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein a series of weft filaments are grasped, drawn out and cut off simultaneously, said filaments being simultaneously received by means of said belt and deposited successively in said open shed.
 4. In an open shed loom comprising warp filaments, extending downwardly from laterally movable carriages and received by a beam therebelow, wherein said carriages are periodically reciprocable between positions on opposite side of the plane of the warp to provide an open shed with free access thereof above, means for feeding weft filaments of a relatively stiff high modulus of elasticity to said open shed, following each reciprocation of said carriages, said last named means comprising means to draw a filament of said high-modulus material out to weft filament length, means to cut said filament to said length, endless belt means located to receive said length of weft filament, means for periodically advancing said endless belt means, said advancing means being timed to successively deposit the weft filament from said belt into said open shed, following each carriage reciprocation.
 5. A loom as called for in claim 4 wherein said means for drawing said filament comprises opposed jaws, means actuated on signal to open and close said jaws, said jaws being mounted on a guideway for reciprocation in a predetermined path, means for clamping said jaws to grasp the weft filament therebetween, means for moving said jaws along said guideway to draw out the filament, means thereafter for opening said jaws and returning said jaws along said guideway, means for closing said jaws to cut and grasp the filament for repetition of the cycle. 